Tanaka goes boom off the wall to lift Surfriders

Seranaded by chants of "riiip 'em, riiip 'em," from the Kailua dugout, pinch hitter Keenan Tanaka stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth.

The first pitch he saw, Tanaka obliged his teammates.

He unloaded Kainoa Tom's fastball against the centerfield wall for a three-run double that accounted for half of No. 7 Kailua's offense in yesterday's 6-1 victory at No. 8 Castle.

The Surfriders (7-1) pulled into second place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association East Division with the crucial win, while the Knights (6-1-1) dropped to third.

What had transpired just moments before Tanaka came to bat might have been just as important as his clutch hit. Kailua's Rob DeMarsh hit into a fielder's choice out at home, and Castle catcher Lyle Kitagawa threw the ball to first to attempt the inning-ending double play. DeMarsh was narrowly called safe, setting the stage for Tanaka.

Castle coach Joe Tom Jr. argued that DeMarsh had tried to zag into the path of the ball at the last moment to disrupt the play, and asked for an interpretation of the rules. DeMarsh was affirmed safe, and play continued a few moments later.

"You gotta make your breaks," Tom Jr. said. "Hard luck, we started out good, and a couple things happened here or there. I was concerned about (the call), but (Kailua) took the lead before then. Seven inning game, one bad inning can cost you, and that's what happened to us."

Kailua had already capitalized on Marcus Mathews' RBI single and Zach Akamine's score on an error to take a 2-1 lead, which expanded to 5-1 a moment later.

Tanaka wasted no time in making the close decision at first base loom large. The junior leftfielder later explained he made a conscious decision to swing away on his first.

"It was low inside, just ripped it," said Tanaka. "Most of the game (Tom) was throwing the first pitches for strikes, (and) I'm not too good on hitting like getting in the count."

Kailua coach Corey Ishigo wanted to go with his best defensive lineup to start the game, and bring in Tanaka's offense as soon as a prime opportunity presented itself.

"(Tanaka) usually starts for us, and has been driving in some key runs for us throughout the year. We thought it was a good time to use him in that situation," Ishigo said. "It wasn't that we were punishing him for anything (being a reserve)."

Castle honored Patrick Kapahu, a member of the team who died in the fall of 2006. The four seniors ran around the bases after the game, carrying a framed picture of Kapahu, who would have graduated with them this year.